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State of Origin Game 1 Teams - How New South Wales and Queensland will line up

State of Origin Game 1 will see new-look sides for both New South Wales and Queensland when the series gets underway at the MCG on June 6.

Defending champions Queensland have dropped star veterans Darius Boyd and Matt Scott for the opening game with Maroons coach Kevin Walters unable to find any room for the duo who have been key figures in a decade-long Origin dominance over New South Wales.

Scott missed most of last season with a knee injury and is perhaps a victim of the struggling North Queensland Cowboys side, who sit second last on the ladder - although, that didn’t stop Michael Morgan, Coen Hess and Gavin Cooper receiving call-ups.

Boyd, meanwhile, hasn’t made much of an impact for the Brisbane Broncos this season - and Walters has opted for the electric and youthful Valentine Holmes selected on the left wing. Dane Gagai was named on the other flank, with Billy Slater at fullback and new captain Greg Inglis partnering Will Chambers in the centres.

A new-look spine has been forced upon the Maroons after Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith called time on their Origin careers, with Cameron Munster and Ben Hunt picked in the halves and Broncos warhorse Andrew McCullough named at hooker for his first Origin game.

New South Wales coach Brad Fittler has named a record 11 debutant in his Blues side. He has kept just six players from the side which lost another Origin series last year with James Tedesco, James Maloney, Dave Klemmer, Boyd Cordner, Tyson Frizell and Jake Trbojevic named for Game 1.

The 11 new faces represents a record in a single Origin side, beating the 10 named by Queensland in 2001 and the previews NSW record of eight debutants in 2002.

Boyd Cordner will lead the Blues into battle when the 2018 Origin series gets underway on neutral ground in Melbourne, but among those overlooked for selection were Aaron Woods, Josh Dugan, Blake Ferguson, Wade Graham and Josh Jackson.